Such Expressive (and Unexpected) Taxidermy
Beware of Fox!
It’s been up on this porch roof for at least a couple of days.
I was driving to the zoo from school on Monday.
The story I heard from the guy out in front of the house next door?
The guy who lives there does demolition and probably got it from some home he was tearing down. It is the season of demolition around the city as you know.
A photographer has no choice but to pull to the curb and shoot the scene. Remember the days of women’s stoles with fox heads dangling and tiny paws with claws? Beady eyes? Ugh. Wonder if they take him in if it rains?
The last book we read in 2nd grade Intervention Group was the Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.
Steel Making- Braddock PA
Edgar Thomson Plant United States Steel Mon Valley Works in Braddock, PA Shot less than two weeks ago
How does color or lack of it affect a photograph? What about cropping?
The five photos below are all from one master image.
Discovered the folklore of Joe Magarac, a legendary steel worker from Croatia tried to find online if that statue of a steelworker is supposed to be legendary Joe Magarac. Check out the article Folklore or Fakelore?
And I found a cool driving tour of the mills video from 1988
or see the Steel making process in this video
Demolition in Swissvale
Driving back from Braddock, I saw people on the sidewalk with cameras in hand.
Then I saw the demolition of a house taking place.
I turned a corner and parked and got out and took a few pictures.
I thought the first one the best as it showed most of the scene. But the progressive close-ups complete the story.
My son’s in-laws grew up in this part of Pittsburgh. I heard that the house had been empty for ten years.
It was sad to see it demolished even though it must have been in bad shape. Y0u wonder who lived there.
What happened that it became abandoned. You know there is a story.
I saw a green plastic basket in the rubble
*And I looked up the CASE excavator model # and it says it is 37, 700 pounds operating weight.
Note to Self: Leave Home Ten Minutes Earlier
Two school buses and a garbage truck stopped on the narrow street as I made my way to school. A standstill, brake lights on. Do you worry? No, you photograph the scene. Write a note to self.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue
One photo, spot on, would be just right. I usually have no problem choosing one image.
Until almost midnight on Monday night. Blue.
Yes, that is a leather bodice. NYC shop window. I was focusing on the shoes but the blue dress caught my eye when I was looking for a blue photo.
And the Opening at UnSmoke Artspace
The third day. The actual opening. The third in a series of posts highlighting emerging artists and their exhibition.
It was a great night at UnSmoke Artspace, Braddock PA. Seems to make sense to show the successful and well attended exhibition after two days of hardwork and preparation.
Everyone was waiting and waiting for the plank to break as Aaron drilled and drilled for more than four and a half hours. You can see him fall in the blurry photo and applause broke out!
Congratulations to Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen on (Voice of rational being)
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Justin Sorensen Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After a drive from Rhode Island School of Design to Erie PA and then today to Braddock, PA, Justin Sorensen is setting up his artwork for Friday night’s opening at UnSmoke Artspace . Yesterday’s blogpost showed Aaron Meyers installing his portion of the exhibition but Justin hadn’t arrived yet.
I called Aaron and asked if I could come over and shoot Justin for the blog and he said it was fine by them.
I drove over with my neighbor who can’t make the opening so he could catch a preview of the exhibition. Justin was a good sport and we didn’t stay too long as they were really busy completing the final preparations. Twenty four hours later and Aaron was still drilling into the brick walls.
They took a break and showed us around and I was able to capture Justin and his artwork for today’s post and photos. Opening Friday night at 6 PM. Unsmoke Artspace 1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock PA.
Justin Sorensen and Aaron Meyers at UnSmoke Artspace in Braddock PA, ready for Friday night’s opening of (Voice of rational being)
Aaron Meyers Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After school on Wednesday, I drove to Braddock. Directly across from the Edgar Thomson USS Mill is an old Catholic school building that’s been transformed into a spacious art gallery. UnSmoke Artspace.
This Friday night (May 11th 6-9PM) is the opening of (Voice of rational being) An exhibition featuring the works of Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen.
I was fortunate to spend an hour or so watching Aaron set up some of his work and followed him around, shooting and talking and only once did he ask me to hold a plank while he drilled into the brick wall so I wasn’t too useful. He was gracious and explained his exploration of materials and how he had transported the art in a truck and what his performance would be during the exhibit.
One thing that struck me is how Aaron inquired about my teaching at school AND about what my blog is about. So although I was there for the purpose of photographing him and his art, he expressed interest in what I do and it was an easy exchange. Aaron has empathy and understanding for the teaching as his mom and I are colleagues. He told me how almost every school he attended in the city is now closed.
1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock UnSmoke Artspace
Across the street
Google Pittsburgh
When we first lived in Pittsburgh and Matthew played baseball in Mellon Park across the street from Bakery Square we could smell the aroma of baking. Crackers, cookies, it was the NABISCO Factory built in 1918. Bakery Square has been “repurposed” as they say. And GOOGLED.
There’s a Coffee Tree that opens at 5:30 AM. for the early birds.
And a close-up crop of the Google flag.
Buildings Demolished- A Sign Discovered
Converted to black and white to accompany this discovery.
A bit of research on the web and I found the photograph of the Fiore Family in their Larimer Meat Market.
I drove by just before sunset and was surprised to find some buildings missing. The ground covered with hay. And then I spied this wonderful sign. What a gift. Larimer used to be densely populated with Italian immigrants but this area is fairly desolate now. Vacant lots were restaurants and shops used to be. There are still homes in the area but lots of spaces in-between of what used to be there. About a mile from my house.
Only the automobiles in the photo give it a date. TODAY.
I hope some of their descendants find this post and write a comment.
copied and pasted from a Google Search.
Tugboat Pushes Barges on the Mon
Shot through a chain-link fence.
I was in the passenger seat and I had my camera out. The 70-200 lens.
We were headed to the wedding reception from McKeesport to Greentree. (Lots of double ee)
Crossing the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge. A truss bridge.
And there was a tugboat pushing filled barges on the Monongahela. (Monongahela means “Falling Banks”)
Pushed the shutter and shot shot shot as fast as I could, no chance to change settings. Lucked out with the cables on the edge and the gull in flight. The chain link fence gives the photo a soft haze and fuzz to the sharpness.
I’d asked my friend to drive a little more slowly but everything whizzes by when you are moving and it was unrealistic to go slow on the bridge. Couldn’t have done it if I were driving as there was no place to pull over. It was a squeeze.
and might as well show you the failed shots, the ones with the bridge cables, the blocking the view, the actual fence.
Photography can be exasperating. You would like to get it right.
There was no time for a turnaround, rerun, do-over.
It was the one shot that worked. Lucky day. Oh yes, at least three below that didn’t.
Novelty Architecture-Bedford PA- The Coffee Pot
I imagine this scene has been captured thousands and thousands of times by passersby like myself.
And if you enjoy looking at the Coffee Pot there are plenty more structures to read about here
Dunkle’s Gulf Station-Bedford, PA
This Gulf Station has been photographed thousands of times, but I was a tourist in Bedford, PA this past weekend and I joined the throngs and snapped a picture even though there was no blue sky or inhabitants. What I would have liked to photograph is Mr. Dunkle if he is available, have a conversation. Next trip. If you want to see other photos of the same spot check out this site
New York Public Library Interior- Library Lions Patience and Fortitude in LEGO®
No conversation. No exchange. Just a quick shot in low light to capture the architecture, the lines and curves, the grand feel of it all.
Grainy and bit soft on the focus but all the angles and shapes and lines are subtly defined. We went through the Shelley’s Ghost Exhibition and climbed staircases, looked down from the mezzanine into the entrance way. Saw a photography exhibit and at the entrance way Patience and Fortitude the Library Lions in LEGO®. What are the rules of interior photography, what are you allowed to take? There are places where it is clear- No Photography. Tough to monitor people and their cell phone shots. I did not photograph where it said not to.
Joyce Captures A Construction Worker’s Image in NYC
My college friend took the train into Grand Central and met my sister and me in Bryant Park today. We walked to the Museum of Modern Art, saw the Cindy Sherman Show and Eugene Atget Show.
Joyce is an adventuresome street photographer, capturing all sorts of people in the city. This worker was happy to oblige. I photographed her photographing him. We had a fun time at the MOMA Sculpture Garden, dueling photographers.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Through
About number six on the list of definitions of the word through - Having finished; at completion
Went to Farm to Table Conference (courtesy of Erin Hart, Thank You! and stay tuned for a post tomorrow highlighting the conference)
I ventured out onto the balcony to shoot the bridges, helicopters landing at Allegheny Hospital and the Allegheny River. At the end of the balcony I found this receptacle filled with items – looked like the people were THROUGH – as in finished- the people who left their cigarettes and soft drinks and beer bottles were definitely THROUGH and they were probably not from the Raw Milk and Organic Fruits and Vegetables crowd.
Not a soul was out there lighting up. But everything seemed in a perfect place in the circle of the trash, an interesting composition.
And-
You know how I enjoy the idea of a garbageologist as a second career. My mother always said, you can tell a lot about people by their garbage.
And when I turned to go back into the Convention Center, I looked through the window and saw these boys and two male figures, looking out through the windows to see the Allegheny River.
The Railroad Bridge, plate glass windows, the Allegheny River and reflection. People staring through the windows.
And here are fellow bloggers responses to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Through
Another WPC participant this week is Cardboard Me/ Flat Ruthie is stepping Through a Tart Pan, Sprightly
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
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- Weekly WordPress Challenge: Through « Photo By Holly
- grow THROUGH life « Simply Charming
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Yikes- You’ve Got to Pull Over, Get Out of Your Car and Shoot It!
In the distance you can see the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt.
The sparkly Christmas Tree caught my eye . St Patricks’s preparation?
And as I returned to my car, I saw the sidewalk/stairs in the shade.
Built in 1870 – Oldest Continuously Operating Incline
Could be a shot for contrast as well. A spot of color on a dull day. The Monongahela Incline. View from West Carson Street.
Find the Magic Chef Gas Ranges Sign
City rooftops from the 22nd floor. Through a hotel window. Raindrops on the glass.
Cantilevered House,View 2, Friday on the Way to School
You saw my photo through the foggy school bus windshield. Friday morning there was a train going by as I shot this but the cars were flat. Couldn’t wait for that to change. It was a nice touch, to hear it speeding by on the track above.
I shot this outside the window, not through it and since I was the driver this time, I pulled to the side of the road. Not a lot of time to experiment or revise on the way to school and no time to get out of the car. Oh yes, iPhone camera not regular camera.
You read about this home in the New York Times last week. If you wish to compare the shot from my previous post it is here.
It’s a cool view to see every morning. I watched them build it but didn’t document it. Too bad. One for the regret category. Since most blog readers are out of town and can’t swing by to see this more clearly and are relying on my view, I wanted to show this unusual home in a nice light. And the school bus was parked.
Morning sun instead of rain and fog, clears up the view.
Shrouded Downtown Church from the Parking Garage Spiral & Detail
Going to fact check but believe this is the church with 13 Tiffany windows
Shot Through the Bus Windshield
You saw Thursday’s post of the passenger photo from the school bus ride to the Carnegie Museum of Art when it was snowing. Here’s another one. We were coming back from the Teenie Harris exhibit headed back to school. This photo has a cool story and link.
My friend R came over in the snow for a bowl of minestrone soup, Friday night. She told me about this cool house on the South Side, featured in the New York TImes. ”A cantilevered house over a glass factory”, she said. I said, “I drive by that house EVERYDAY on the way to school. I watched it being built!” I’ve photographed the trains going by, the weather. I have pulled over there many times and photographed the scene.
On Wednesday I photographed a piece of this unique house through the school bus windshield. You can see a glimpse of their Emerald Art Glass Factory, the school bus yard on the left and the train trestle where I’ve photographed trains in a blur. Up on the slopes is formerly St. Josaphat’s church that’s now closed. If you want to see the house as it should be seen then you will have to go and watch the NYTimes slideshow.
Here is the link and the NYTimes amazing photos in a slideshow of this really cool house in detail. You just see a snippet of the house in my photo in the upper left. After you see the pristine and fantastic photographs at the New York Times you might wonder why I posted my iPhone photo of the same scene?
Southside Flats and Slopes
Downtown Reception
Not sure who is watching what but plenty of antennae and dishes on this roof
Trackbacks & Pingbacks from fellow bloggers. You can check out how they responded to the challenge.
Flat Ruthie got in on it this week, too. Click here